S8, Ep 51: Summer Stream Insights: George Costa on Conditions, Patterns and Upcoming Events
Episode Overview
In this Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a real-time midsummer conditions update. A cooler, wetter stretch of weather has replaced the previous week's heat, giving Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams a welcome break heading into the weekend.
Costa reports that Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek are all running a little above average and slightly off-color after a soaking rain earlier in the week, while the Little Juniata took on considerably more water and needs roughly another day to clear and become fully fishable again. Water temperatures have benefited from the cooler nights and days, though Costa flags the need to keep an eye on afternoon readings as they push toward the high 60s later in the season. On the bug front, Tricos are just getting started on Spring Creek and nearby waters, with the best window running from 8 to 11 in the morning, alongside lingering Cahills and golden stones on the dry fly side and Cahills and caddis in the evenings. Terrestrials, however, are the clear standout right now: ants, greenie weenies, beetles and crickets are producing well as summer patterns take over. Nymphing remains steady, and Costa notes a handful of anglers found success swinging streamers in the higher, off-color water this week. Costa also previews TCO's remaining summer calendar, including the Bass Thumb smallmouth tournament on the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers and the outdoor fly fishing festival coming up in early August at Boiling Springs.
Key Takeaways
- How to identify prime Trico water on Spring Creek and time the hatch for the 8 to 11 a.m. window when action is strongest.
- Why terrestrial patterns like ants, greenie weenies, beetles and crickets are outproducing traditional hatch-matching flies in Central PA right now.
- When to switch to streamers on Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek during periods of higher, off-color water.
- Why monitoring afternoon water temperatures matters as summer conditions push streams toward the high 60s.
- When to expect thunderstorm-driven flow spikes to subside on Central PA freestone and limestone water this time of year.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Costa's report centers on a classic midsummer technique mix for Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams: morning Trico dry fly fishing on Spring Creek, terrestrial presentations (ants, greenie weenies, beetles and crickets) through the heart of the day and evening dry fly work with Cahills and caddis patterns. He also flags golden stones as a still-active dry fly option and notes that nymphing continues to produce consistent results across the region's waters. For anglers facing higher, off-color flows following rain events, Costa recommends switching to streamer presentations, which produced well for several anglers this week on water that had come up and lost clarity.
Locations & Species
This report covers Central Pennsylvania's core limestone and freestone trout fisheries: Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek, all running a little above average and slightly off-color following recent rain, plus the Little Juniata, which took on significantly more water and remains blown out but should clear within about a day. Wild and stocked trout are the primary target throughout. Seasonally, this is a midsummer transition window, with cooler-than-average temperatures providing a temporary reprieve from the prior week's heat, morning Trico hatches just getting underway and terrestrial season firmly established as the dominant daytime feeding driver.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
When is the best time to fish Tricos on Spring Creek in Central PA?
Costa reports Tricos are just getting underway on Spring Creek and other area streams, with the best window running between 8 and 11 in the morning. He notes this timing typically holds through the rest of the summer as the hatch builds.
Why should anglers pay attention to afternoon water temperatures in Central PA during summer?
As the season progresses, afternoon water temperatures on some Central PA streams will start pushing into the high 60s, which can stress trout. Costa advises anglers to check afternoon temps as the season progresses.
What terrestrial patterns are working best right now in Central PA?
Costa identifies ants, greenie weenies, beetles and crickets as the key terrestrial patterns producing results this time of year. He recommends these as the go-to searching patterns during the midsummer terrestrial window.
Should anglers fish streamers when Central PA streams are up and off-color?
Yes. Costa notes that a couple of anglers did well on streamers this week specifically because the water was up and running off-color, reinforcing that elevated, discolored flows are a good trigger to switch from dries or nymphs to streamer presentations.
What TCO Fly Shop events are coming up this summer?
The Bass Thumb tournament, a smallmouth bass event on the West Branch of the Susquehanna and the Juniata River, was running the weekend of this recording. TCO's outdoor fly fishing festival at Boiling Springs follows in the first week of August at Children's Lake Park.
Related Content
S8, Ep 17 - Spring Awakening: George Costa on Central PA Fishing and Upcoming Hatches
S7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa
S8, Ep 47 - Central PA Fishing Forecast: George Costa's Summer Stream Insights
S8, Ep 42 - Exploring Terrestrials and Summer Patterns: George Costa's Fishing Forecast
View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa
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In this Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a summer conditions update covering Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Little Juniata River. George reports a welcome cooldown and a solid shot of rain that pushed stream levels up after a hot stretch, with morning Trico hatches just getting underway on Spring Creek alongside lingering Cahills and golden stones. Terrestrial patterns — ants, Greenie Weenies, beetles and crickets — are the standout producers right now, while nymphing stays consistent and streamers pick up fish when the water runs high and off color. George also previews TCO's Bass Thumb Tournament on the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers and the shop's Outdoor Fly Fishing Festival coming up in Boiling Springs.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Guest: George Costa - Shop Manager at TCO Fly Shop (State College, Pennsylvania)
In this episode: Central PA fishing expert George Costa delivers a summer conditions update for Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams, covering a post-heatwave cooldown, a beneficial rain event and the seasonal shift from spring hatches into full terrestrial season. Topics include summer stream conditions and water temperature management, the emergence of morning Trico hatches and upcoming TCO Fly Shop summer events including the Bass Thumb bass tournament and the Outdoor Fly Fishing Festival.
Key fishing techniques covered:
- Terrestrial pattern presentations (ants, Greenie Weenies, beetles, crickets)
- Morning Trico dry fly fishing
- Nymphing in Central PA limestone streams
- Streamer fishing in high, off-color water
- Afternoon water temperature monitoring
Location focus: Central Pennsylvania limestone streams - Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Little Juniata River; Susquehanna and Juniata rivers (smallmouth bass tournament waters)
Target species: Wild and stocked trout, smallmouth bass
Equipment discussed: Terrestrial dry fly patterns (ants, Greenie Weenies, beetles, crickets), Cahill and golden stone dry flies, streamers, nymphs
Key questions answered:
- What are current Central PA stream conditions in early summer
- When do Trico hatches begin on Spring Creek
- What terrestrial patterns work best for summer trout fishing
- When should anglers switch to streamers in off-color water
Best for: Beginner to intermediate anglers interested in Central Pennsylvania summer trout tactics and seasonal terrestrial fishing strategies
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Marvin Cash
Hey, folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly.We're back with another Central PA Fishing Report with the man himself, Internet George Costa. George, how are you?
George Costa
Amazing as always, Marvin. Thank you. How are you?
Marvin Cash
I'm. I'm getting there. How's the ambiance in the stock room this afternoon?
George Costa
It's very nice back here in the stock room. The dehumidifier is running. It's. It's cool and it's shady and it's quite nice. Thank you for asking.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, it's all good.You know, it's kind of funny, we were talking before we started recording and like I always do with all my fishing report folks, I look at the weather just to kind of see what's going on and you know you've got us beat by about 15 degrees. It's pretty nice in State College right now, right?
George Costa
It is. It is a marked improvement over last week. Last week it was hot, as was the whole east coast. Everybody knows this week is cooled down quite nicely.We've got temps at night down in the 60s and daytime temps have been in the high 70s, low 80s for the past few days, which is great for water temps. We also got a really nice shot of rain over this week here. We got, you know, a lot of rain Sunday into Monday.There were some flood watches here and there throughout the county, so streams were bumped up and pretty high levels right now are pretty good on most of the streams. Spring Penns, Fishing Creek are all a little above average and running just a little off color.Little Jay did get a lot more water than we did up here, so that's been pretty much blown out all week. It's on the drop and should be fishable, I would say within the next 24 hours going into the weekend. So that's coming back into shape.And a little more rain this weekend will bump the flows a tiny bit more, but not too much more expected this time of year. You always got to really watch out for those thunderstorms because the water will come up and then it'll drop back down in four or five hour stretch.So temps have been good throughout the week, but definitely the time of year to check those afternoon temps because the water on some of the streams will definitely start pushing into the high 60s. So just be conscious of that on the fishing front. Mornings have been pretty good. That's been where better action has been.We are starting to see some Tricos on Spring Creek and some of the other area streams. So Tricos are just getting underway. That's the best in the morning anyway.Look for those trikes between like 8 and 11 in the morning is usually the best time for them. Still a handful of Cahill's around, some golden stones here and there on the dry fly front. Evening action is going to be like some Cahill, some caddis.But terrestrials have really been what's been key. You know, ants, greenie weenies, beetles, crickets, things like that.If you're going to search with patterns, those are your best bets for this time of year. Nymphing's been consistent and a couple guys did pretty good on streamers this week when the water was up and off color.So doesn't hurt to throw a little streamer when the water's up and off color. So overall for this time of year, we're in much better shape than we were last week.The cooler temps and the nice push of water this week and make conditions pretty good and should continue into next week.
Marvin Cash
Well, that's really cool.And I know, I think the last time you spoke, the main event you were promoting kind of heading into the summer was your big festival event down in, I think, Boiling Springs. But if you got. You got that. And do you have any fishing tournaments left?
George Costa
The last tournament is taking place this weekend. We've got the Bass Thumb tournament getting started tonight. That's the next two days down on the West Branch of the Susquehanna and the Juniata River.Those guys are all there. They've got a full, full roster for that tournament down there. So that's a great event that we've been doing every July for the past couple years.We've got the outdoor fly fishing festival down at Boiling Springs coming up beginning August. That's going to be another great festival. It's over at the children's lake park there, right at our Boiling Springs shop in the first week of August.So that'll be a fun event worth checking out. Other than that in the shop, not an awful lot going on. You know, we're in the summertime slow kind of season right now.I'm sure we'll have a bunch of classes and all our full schedule for tying classes in store classes that's coming up soon, in the next couple of months. So keep your eyes peeled on our website for all that info.
Marvin Cash
Very, very cool, folks. And you know, we love questions. And you love questions too, George, right?
George Costa
Some questions, not all questions.
Marvin Cash
But you like authentic non AI generated questions, right?
George Costa
In fact, I do, yes, very much so.
Marvin Cash
It warms the cockles of your heart. So if you like George's, laugh and you want him to be happy D me or email me your questions.And if we use one of your questions on the fishing report, I'll send you some articulate flying butcher shop swag. And when you're into a drawing for something cool from the shop at the end of the season.And George, I mean, I could do it by heart now too, but you want to let folks know location, shop hours and all that kind of good stuff.
George Costa
Don't steal my thunder. Here at State College at TCO, we're open Monday through Saturday 9 to 6, Sundays 9 to 3.All of our other shops are open similar hours at all of our locations. And hit us up on the web at tcoflyfishing.com yeah, I kind of almost.
Marvin Cash
Knocked you off your horse there, didn't I?
George Costa
You did.
Marvin Cash
You did.
George Costa
You off kiltered me.
Marvin Cash
Well, listen, folks, you owe it to yourself to get out there and fish because it's just going to be hot. And as the summer drags on, your options are going to be skinnier and skinnier for trout. So get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody.Tight lines. George.
George Costa
Take it easy, Marv.
Manager | Guide | TCO Fly Shop State College
For over five years, George has joined us every two weeks to give us the latest conditions update for Central Pennsylvania trout streams, answer listener questions and share upcoming events at TCO Fly Shop.
Formed in 1990, TCO Fly Shop is the largest, most complete Fly Fishing Outfitter in the US. TCO (Tulpehocken Creek Outfitters) was named after one of the finest tailwater fisheries in the East, the Tulpehocken Creek.
With 5 retail locations and a significant eCommerce business, TCO Fly Shop offers the widest selection of the best products available in the Fly Fishing industry. TCO is committed to providing superior customer service. Our goal is to provide each client the same excellent experience whether that experience is online, in any of our shops, on the stream with our guides, or at any of our educational events. We continue to grow based on a winning mix of quality products, service excellence and passion for education.
